Swimming, Sort Of

Next item on the summer vacation bucket list: Go swimming!  Or wading.  Or sitting.

I recently joined the local YMCA, mainly because I need the exercise endorphins, but also because a family membership allows us to go swimming and gets us a big discount on swim lessons.  When I proposed swim lessons for Anna and Daniel, Anna eagerly accepted the offer but Daniel wasn't interested until we actually got in the pool this afternoon.  That's pretty typical for Daniel--he usually doesn't want to try new things or shake up his status quo, but if you can get him out and involved in the activity he usually has a good time.

Our kids currently run the whole gamut of swimming skill and confidence:

Joy is a capable swimmer who can swim laps unassisted.  

Daniel is comfortable in the water, but that's just because he knows his limits.  He always stays in areas where he can touch the bottom.  

Anna is pretty nervous about the water; she likes to be in it and often wants me to carry her around in the pool, but she clung to me nearly every second her feet weren't on the steps today, even though she was wearing a life vest.  It probably doesn't help that she's only been in a pool once in the last year.  She felt a little more comfortable in the water by the end of our outing today, and I'm hopeful that she'll make lots of progress in her swim class next month.  

Todd was content to sit on the top step  the whole time watching the other kids or playing with a pool noodle.  Since Anna wanted my attention a lot, I was happy to just let him chill this time.